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706 reviews
Heart Takes the Stage by Steenz
5.0
My love for comics began with reading the comics section of the newspaper every weekend as a kid. Reading this collection was a joyful experience that took me back to those fun moments. I don't read a lot of comic strips anymore but I am always delighted to find a new series (especially one that brings me joy, like this one!). Steenz's Heart Takes the Stage is smart, funny, and charming, and will be sure to make you smile.
Thank you Andrews McMeel Publishing and NetGalley for providing me with an e-ARC of this book.
Thank you Andrews McMeel Publishing and NetGalley for providing me with an e-ARC of this book.
We Are the Crisis by Cadwell Turnbull
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
4.5
We Are the Crisis, sequel to No Gods, No Monsters eerily takes readers deeper into Cadwell Turnbull’s world of magic, monsters, and mystery. He doesn’t hold back as he introduces new characters, unravels conspiracies, and imagines the consequences of power.
In No Gods, No Monsters, monsters reveal themselves to the world. We Are the Crisis picks up three years later and follows several familiar faces. The world has changed but not for the better: hate crimes are on the rise, monsters are disappearing, and secret societies are making moves toward their endgame. The main characters are trying to survive in an increasingly hostile and paranoid world, and this book emphasizes the importance of collective action and solidarity as the only way through this nightmare (Sound familiar? Free Palestine 🍉).
The pursuit of solidarity is one of the main themes in this book. This book also explores the price of knowledge, the cost of power, and the meaning of family. But the main aspect that drives the plot forward is the overarching mystery. None of the characters have all the answers, and as a reader, I found it exciting to try and put this puzzle together. It feels complicated at times but it’s my favourite aspect of these books—the mystery and the questioning of why things are happening the way they are. No Gods, No Monsters asks a lot of questions about existence, reality, and purpose. We Are the Crisis provides answers and builds on these questions in fascinating ways. Turnbull’s writing is clever and the use of the book’s narrator to ponder these questions is compelling.
We Are the Crisis features changing relationship dynamics and great character development. Characters like Ridley and Laina come into their own and embrace their true selves, while Dragon learns how to navigate an unfamiliar world. New characters like Tez and Alex break open Turnbull’s world further by providing the reader with new perspectives and different pieces of the magical puzzle. Additionally, the plot progresses well as magic is further explored and secrets are revealed. I loved the worldbuilding that went into this story—there are several levels of backstory that explain the magic system and how monsters exist in this world, and it adds a lot of tension and depth to the book. This is accomplished by taking readers on a journey into the past to meet new characters with dangerous secrets, and their actions set the events of the present-day story in motion. These developments will feel satisfying to returning readers and is something new readers can look forward to as they read the first book.
I’m still so captivated by this world and the mysteries within it. We Are the Crisis asks just as many questions as it answers, and I can’t wait to see how it all comes together in the next book. This series is a must read for adult fans of speculative fiction. I highly recommend checking it out if you enjoy any of the following: thought-provoking multiverse stories, folklore and myths, nuanced discussions of politics and power, existential questions about the universe, and emotional stories told from multiple perspectives. This series has something for everyone and I’m sure Turnbull’s writing will captivate you as much as it has captivated me.
My thanks to Blackstone Publishing and NetGalley for providing me with an e-ARC to review.
Octavia E. Butler: The Last Interview and Other Conversations by Octavia E. Butler, Melville House
inspiring
4.5
OCTAVIA E. BUTLER: THE LAST INTERVIEW AND OTHER CONVERSATIONS is a collection of 10 interviews with Octavia Butler, 3 of which haven’t been published before. I was concerned that this book might be too similar to CONVERSATIONS WITH OCTAVIA BUTLER, but that wasn’t the case! Only a few interviews are shared between the books. This book offers more insight into her personal life, early career, and personality. There are also in-depth conversations about the inspiration for her stories and nuanced discussions of politics and race.
My favourite moment from these interviews is when Octavia is asked about writing what she knows, and instead she mentions that she writes what she cares about. She says: “my novels are the best of me. My novels and short stories are the best I have to offer. What I’ve done all my life is tell stories. Find the things I really care about and then tell the stories.”
Octavia’s caring nature is apparent in these interviews as she discusses her worries for the environment, reflects on her childhood and familial relationships, and explains why she writes stories. Contextualizing her work this way makes me see her in a new light—I’ve always thought of her as a thoughtful writer but now I better understand the ways in which she cared about the world, cared about reflecting herself and other Black women in SFF books, and about stories in general. Her determination and brilliance shine through in these interviews. I feel lucky that we’re still getting opportunities to know Octavia 17 years after her passing. This book is an insightful read for any fan of her work, and a worthy addition to collections of books by and about her.
My thanks to NetGalley and Melville House Publishing for providing me with an eARC.
Brooms by Jasmine Walls
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
5.0
BROOMS is a powerful queer & witchy graphic novel by Jasmine Walls and Teo DuVall. It’s set in 1930s Mississippi, where magic use is limited and broom racing is banned. But some witches see broom racing as the only way to make enough money to leave the state for good, or as a way to avoid government officials who want to send young witches away to a boarding school that will prevent them from using their ancestral magic. For other witches, it's a way to be true to themselves. This book follows six BIPOC witches as they turn to broom racing as the only way out of their hardships.
This graphic novel tells the heart-wrenching story of what it feels like to have things taken away from you—your magic, identity, and ability to live as your true self while living in a constant state of fear. But it also shows the importance of fighting back and reclaiming your power; of believing in yourself and knowing that no one can ever steal what’s rightfully yours. This story actively chooses not to focus on pain and hatred, and instead focuses on love, community and acceptance. It allows us to dream of a kinder world and imagine what’s possible.
The characters resist colonialism by embracing who they are, which is a beautiful thing to witness. They fight for survival in the face of injustice, and they lean on each other through it all. Their friendship is the glue that holds the book together, and although there are six main characters the story feels well-balanced and each witch has enough time to tell her story. Their ancestral and familial ties to magic guides them and moves the story forward.
BROOMS is a profound and thoughtful exploration of what it’s like to be a rebellious queer woman of colour in the face of adversity, but also a tender and magical story about friendship and community.
My thanks to NetGalley and Levine Querido for providing me with an eARC.
This graphic novel tells the heart-wrenching story of what it feels like to have things taken away from you—your magic, identity, and ability to live as your true self while living in a constant state of fear. But it also shows the importance of fighting back and reclaiming your power; of believing in yourself and knowing that no one can ever steal what’s rightfully yours. This story actively chooses not to focus on pain and hatred, and instead focuses on love, community and acceptance. It allows us to dream of a kinder world and imagine what’s possible.
The characters resist colonialism by embracing who they are, which is a beautiful thing to witness. They fight for survival in the face of injustice, and they lean on each other through it all. Their friendship is the glue that holds the book together, and although there are six main characters the story feels well-balanced and each witch has enough time to tell her story. Their ancestral and familial ties to magic guides them and moves the story forward.
BROOMS is a profound and thoughtful exploration of what it’s like to be a rebellious queer woman of colour in the face of adversity, but also a tender and magical story about friendship and community.
My thanks to NetGalley and Levine Querido for providing me with an eARC.